Time for Afghanistan to ‘do more’: COAS

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Saturday while counter terrorism efforts by Pakistan continued, it was time now for the other stakeholders particularly Afghanistan to 'do more'. 

The COAS reiterated, “We will continue our efforts to positively contribute towards regional peace and stability and shall not allow use of our territory against any other country.”

COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa expressed these views while chairing a high-level meeting held here at the GHQ on Saturday in the backdrop of recent spate of terrorist activities in the country, says an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release.

The COAS was briefed in detail about the recent incidents and their manifest linkages with terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan operating under the patronage of NDS and RAW.

The COAS said, “Since 9/11, Pakistan is one of the few countries which have borne the brunt of terrorism and made monumental sacrifices to effectively neutralise this menace in its state territories. Unfortunately our sacrifices against terrorism are not well acknowledged and we are often subjected to demand of 'do more'.” 

The COAS appreciated the efforts of security forces, intelligence and other law enforcement agencies in foiling countless terrorist activities through ongoing 'Operation Raddul Fasaad'. Gen Bajwa expressed his resolve to eliminate the menace to ensure safety and security of Pakistan and its resilient people who are real strength of their brave security forces.

Meanwhile, the ISPR said that the recent bombings in Pakistan which claimed innocent lives on Friday were linked to terrorists’ sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

The statement came hours after three deadly bombings in Quetta and Parachinar, Kurram Agency, which killed 57 people and wounded more than hundred others.

“Recent terrorist incidents linked to sanctuaries across the border,” said ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor on Twitter.

Gen Ghafoor said that surveillance along the country’s border with Afghanistan had been enhanced promising stringent actions against illegal border crossers.

This is not the first time that Pakistan has blamed terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan for the bloodshed on its soil. In February, officials of the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad were summoned to the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army where they were handed over a list of 76 terrorists orchestrating attacks inside the Pakistani territory from Afghanistan.

These Afghan officials were summoned after deadly attacks in Sehwan, interior Sindh, and Lahore which left more than 100 people dead.

In February Pakistan also closed its border with Afghanistan following the deadly attacks in Sehwan and Lahore which was reopened after nearly 20 days.

Earlier, the ISPR DG said that special intelligence based and search operations had been launched and security had been tightened across the country.

He added that the operations had been launched in coordination with intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed the officials to strictly monitor the crossing points at Pak-Afghan borders to stop terrorists from entering the country from across the border.

Talking to Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lt General Bilal Akbar on phone, the minister said whenever the crossing points at joint border with Afghanistan were opened, the number of such terrorist incidents increased.

The two sides agreed on the point that monitoring on those crossing points should be made more effective and strict vigilance should be ensured on people moving across these points.

He said it was a matter of great concern that any terrorist activity in Afghanistan was linked with Pakistan without any investigation, however, the Western countries did not notice the foreign involvement in the worst terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

Chaudhry Nisar also telephoned Sindh DG Rangers Major General Muhammad Saeed and Balochistan FC Inspector General Major General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum and obtained the details of the evidence surfaced so far connecting with incidents of terrorism in Quetta, Parachinar and Karachi on Friday.

The minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of precious lives in the incidents.

He said just two days before Eidul Fitr, the aim of the terrorist activities seemed to create confusion among the masses regarding security situation in the country.

However, he said, "such cowardice acts would neither shake the commitment of the nation, nor our efforts against the terrorists would go slow"

He said the state of Pakistan would react with full power and commitment to such condemnable actions.

He stressed the need for further improving the protection and effective monitoring of crossing points to stop terrorism from the across the borders.

The minister also expressed concern why such incidents occurred despite issuance of security alert and information from the Interior Ministry to provincial governments.

He said this should be investigated why no protective measures were taken after receiving information regarding expected terrorist attacks in Parachinar.

Chaudhry Nisar directed the FC and Rangers' heads to apprehend the groups, individuals and facilitator involved in the terrorist activities by utilising all resources including information provided by the intelligence agencies.

He directed to chalk out an effective strategy to ensure protection of people's life and property during next a few days particularly on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.

He also paid rich tribute to those police officials who were martyred during terrorist activities in the country. --INP/APP

Our correspondent from Parachinar adds: The death toll from the two bomb blasts that hit the city on Friday rose to 67 as several victims succumbed to their injuries on Saturday. 

About 45 people were killed on Friday and more than 100 sustained injuries when the explosions one after the other rocked Parachinar, the administrative headquarters of Kurram Agency.

Some 40 injured had been flown to Peshawar in army helicopters due to their critical condition. The condition of 15 injured was said to be still precarious.

Reports said that 60 people were laid to rest in their respective villages and towns amid touching scenes as gloom prevailed in Kurram Agency, particularly in Parachinar where the twin bombings took place. All the educational institutions remained closed to mourn the tragedy. Three-day mourning had been announced after the blasts. 

Quran Khwani was also held for the slain persons at the central imambargah in Parachinar.

Mujahid Afzal, who was the nephew of Parachinar Press Club Chairman Ali Afzal Afzaal, was also laid to rest at the Parachinar College Colony. He had died in the blast while his brother was injured. They were caught up in the blast while passing through bazaar on a motorbike.

Medical Superintendent of Agency Headquarters Hospital, Parachinar, Dr Sabir Hussain said that 216 injured had been brought to the hospital.

He said the critically injured had been taken to Peshawar in army helicopters and over 100 wounded were still under treatment at the hospital in Parachinar.

Some of the injured told reporters that four persons were put on a single bed when they were brought to the hospital in Parachinar. They complained that several injured were writhing with pain on the floor of the hospital and were crying for help. 

A local Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Jamil Turi said that the hospital had not been upgraded despite the orders of the Pakistan Army chief in January.

Meanwhile, the tribesmen staged a protest sit-in in Parachinar against the political administration and the government for failing to control the fresh wave of terrorism in Parachinar.

They demanded strict action against the personnel of the security forces for opening fire on the protesters after the twin blasts.

Former Senator Allama Abid al-Hussain also addressed the protesters. 

Meanwhile, the Turi Bangash tribal elders at a jirga expressed reservations about the security arrangements and demanded the deployment of the paramilitary Kurram Militia in Parachinar. 

Allama Fida Muzahiri, Faqir Hassan, Noor Muhammad, Shabbir Sajidi and others spoke at the jirga. 

They said that after the January 21 and March 31 blasts, many parts of Parachinar had been turned into “Red zone” to ensure maximum security.

The tribesmen complained that the establishment of the “Red zone” had economically hit the people of Parachinar. They said they had even allowed the checking of women against the local customs for the sake of peace, but the inhabitants of Parachinar are still yearning for peace.